2021 ASP Magazine - 2 Summer v4.0 nobleed

PHOTOGRAPHING THE LATE MODERN (cont.)
continued from page 13
able to do what I have done,” Thom
insists. “I have to give total credit to
Brooks for giving me the technical
know-how I have.”
He studied there for
30 months, and was
not allowed to touch
anything except a
4x5 view camera. The
training was exacting
and demanding,
and he estimated
that only about five
of his original 50
classmates made it to
graduation.
While at Brooks,
Thom became a
PPA member and
began attending the
annual conventions
and workshops.
This afforded him a comprehensive
network of fellow photographers and
lifelong relationships were forged
across the country. He also began
entering PPA’s print competition.
From his first competition, he did very
well, and the merits came easily for
TOP LEFT – Albert C. Martin and Associates ARCO Towers | TOP RIGHT – Hans
Mumper, Langdon, Wilson CNA Park Place Tower | BELOW – Anaheim Convention
Center
him. Not an easy feat for those days,
he earned his Master of Photography
degree in only three years.
After graduating from Brooks
Institute and earning his PPA degree,
Thom began teaching at West
Coast School, where he
continued to educate
new photographers
for many years. He
spent some time on the
teaching circuit, and was a
presenter at PPA’s annual
convention several
times. Over the years,
his images have graced
several Professional
Photographer Magazine
covers, as well as an ASP
Magazine cover.
Thom resolved to remain
in southern California,
which, at that time,
was the perfect place
for an architecture
photographer to build a business.
Cities were growing quickly, and
continued on page 15
14 American Society of Photographers Magazine Summer 2021